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Review
. 2011;12(3):1936-63.
doi: 10.3390/ijms12031936. Epub 2011 Mar 17.

Chitin-based materials in tissue engineering: applications in soft tissue and epithelial organ

Tsung-Lin Yang  1
Affiliations
Review

Chitin-based materials in tissue engineering: applications in soft tissue and epithelial organ

Tsung-Lin Yang. Int J Mol Sci. 2011.

Abstract

Chitin-based materials and their derivatives are receiving increased attention in tissue engineering because of their unique and appealing biological properties. In this review, we summarize the biomedical potential of chitin-based materials, specifically focusing on chitosan, in tissue engineering approaches for epithelial and soft tissues. Both types of tissues play an important role in supporting anatomical structures and physiological functions. Because of the attractive features of chitin-based materials, many characteristics beneficial to tissue regeneration including the preservation of cellular phenotype, binding and enhancement of bioactive factors, control of gene expression, and synthesis and deposition of tissue-specific extracellular matrix are well-regulated by chitin-based scaffolds. These scaffolds can be used in repairing body surface linings, reconstructing tissue structures, regenerating connective tissue, and supporting nerve and vascular growth and connection. The novel use of these scaffolds in promoting the regeneration of various tissues originating from the epithelium and soft tissue demonstrates that these chitin-based materials have versatile properties and functionality and serve as promising substrates for a great number of future applications.

Keywords: chitin; chitosan; epithelium; regeneration; soft tissue; tissue engineering.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Molecular structures of chitin, chitosan, and protonated chitosan polymer.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Salivary explants cultured with chitosan demonstrated remarkable lobular formation (A) and development of duct-like structures (B) (Scale bar: 100 μm). (Adapted from [12]).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Extracellular matrix distribution and synthesis in salivary gland explants cultured with chitosan. (A) Distribution of type I collagen (green) in the epithelial-mesenchymal interface (arrowheads) of cultured salivary explants with and without chitosan (DAPI: blue; Col I: type I collagen; Scale bar: 20 μm); (B) The relative expression level of type I collagen was demonstrated using quantitative PCR.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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